Residents are not pleased about the announcement of a national lockdown that was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the 23rd of this month following the escalating number of people who are infected by the coronavirus.
Lockdown is said to be effective from the 26th of March and it will last for 21 days and in the meantime, residents are advised to stay at home and adhere to the rules and regulations provided by the state.
South Africa declared its first death from this virus on the 26th of this month which marks the first day of the lockdown as per the president’s announcement on Tuesday.
The global pandemic has escalated and the president had a tough decision to make pertaining to the health of its citizens as the number of infected people has been increasing.
Soshanguve Pulse took to the streets to learn from members of the community how they are affected by the lockdown what are they expecting after 21 days.
Ms Gloria Molaba who works for the Department of Health said, “If most of us stay at home there will be less contact of person to person, however, this does not reduce the number of infected people that have been infected before. It will, however, reduce the number of people who might be in contact with those that are infected and not aware.
“Remember we have thousands of people that are asymptomatic and only after they are tested, will we know that they have the virus. Those people if they stay at home and not be in contact with more people the disease is only contained in their household not outside their household,” said Ms Molaba
She further added “unfortunately people are scared to test as they do not want to be isolated. Therefore, if after 21 days those people who are infected come in contact with us, we will be infected. Sadly to me is does not make any difference, it is business as usual.”
Ms Sinenhlanhla Mkhize, an essential services worker residing in Soshanguve complains about public transport.
“Honestly, so far this lockdown has interrupted my daily schedule. Importantly in terms of public transport, I struggle with transport now as am an essential worker. I now must go to work twice a week and try to work from home during the rest of the days, it is not easy at all.”
“I think 21 days is not enough to flatten this pandemic curve. Looking at how much time China took to deal with this matter, we might need more than 21 days. I am expecting an extension of the lockdown.
“We also should make sure that we comply with regulations put in place by authorities in order to deal with this matter and get back to living a normal life again,” said Ms Mkhize.
Mr Boitumelo Mmako resident of Soshanguve extension 5 said that the government set these rules without thinking them through.
“The is, we can be unhappy with this lockdown but they are doing it for our safety, the boring part is the time limit when it comes to public transport, in as much as we are allowed to perform our errand at the end of the day we lack transport. “
“As I see it, they will extend the days because the infections are not decreasing but they are increasing instead. That is why I think the rules were set up without thinking them through because we are affected negatively as citizens.” Said Mr Mmako.
